For those sock knitters out there who would like to surprise your fellow Civil War enthusiasts/reenactors with a gift from the heart, I've adjusted the 1865 US Sanitary Commission Sock pattern, generously provided to us by Karin Timour, so that one can make a cute little ornament for the tree. (Or to fit a rolled up $20 in...who wouldn't like that?)
I highly recommend knowing how to knit a basic top down sock with a heel flap first. I'm only going to offer my notes ~ not a formal pattern.
If you would like to see the original pattern, click here.
Here are my notes:
Fingering weight yarn
8 stitches per inch/12 rows per inch, roughly. It's only an ornament, so really...the pressure is off here.
* CO 20 stitches
* 4 row 2x2 rib
* Leg = about 16 rows
* Heel flap = 8 rows
* When I turn the heel, I start by leaving 3 stitches in the middle as my heel width.
* I think I only pick up about 5 or 6 gusset stitches on each side. If you pick up too many, the foot will be out of proportion to the rest of the sock.
* Foot length after decreasing gusset stitches = 4 rows
* Toe Decreases as follows:
1) *K3, Sl1/K1/PSSO*...continue to end.
2) Knit two rows plain
3) *K2, Sl1/K1/PSSO*...continue to end.
4) Knit one row plain
5) *K1, Sl1/K1/PSSO*...continue to end
6) Cut yarn and pull through remaining 8 stitches to close the toe.
I wouldn't recommend decreasing down to less than 8 stitches at the toe. It looks weird. Try it and you'll see what I mean.
I use a darning needle and extra yarn to close up any gaps left near the gusset.
Run another strand of yarn through a spot in the ribbing and tie into a bow. You're done! Don't even have to block it unless you want to.
So far I have made the Christmas red and white one, and a couple of blue ones. Some of the Rebs in your life might like a gray pair.